Railway car door control mechanism

ABSTRACT

A railway car door of the laterally movable and slidable type is provided with a control mechanism including cams which sequentially are movable to first open locking bolts and then laterally move the door to an open position. The mechanism includes a manual control assembly which is shiftable to selectively engage a force multiplying device into movable engagement with an anchoring element on the car body so as to provide power assistance for sliding the door relative to the door opening. A selectively shiftable lever device is provided for connecting a drive mechanism to a camming arrangement or the force multiplying device which slides the doors.

Paterson [4 1 Oet.2l, 1975 RAILWAY CAR DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Thomas G. Paterson, Calumet Twp.,

Ind.

[73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 389,932

[44] Published under the Trial Voluntary Protest Program on January 28, 1975 as document no.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Ottinger 49/281 X Lesage 49/ 220 Marsh 49/220 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Richard J. Myers [5 7] ABSTRACT A railway car door of the laterally movable and slidable type is provided with a control mechanism including cams which sequentially are movable to first open locking bolts and then laterally move the door to an open position. The mechanism includes a manual control assembly which is shiftable to selectively engage a force multiplying device into movable engage ment with an anchoring element on the car body so as to provide power assistance for sliding the door relative to the door opening. A selectively shiftable lever device is provided for connecting a drive mechanism to a camming arrangement or the force multiplying device which slides the doors.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,913,268

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,913,268

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,913,268

RAILWAY CAR DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED PATENT This invention is an improvement over US. Pat. No. 3,750,335, granted Aug. 7, 1973.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to railway car plug doors of a type which are slidingly supported on a track and are movable from a closed position within a door opening laterally outwardly to one side of the door opening. Prior art patents are US. Pat. Nos. 3,468,062, Sept. 23, 1969, 3,468,063, Sept. 23, 1969; 2,553,511, Apr. 15, 1951; 3,636,658, Jan. 25, 1972.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in a railway car plug door wherein a door control mechanism includes a pair of cams manually and selectively operable to sequentially open locking bolts and then laterally force the door outwardly relative to the door opening. The combination includes a force multiplying device which upon the shifting of certain elements, is actuated by the operator to effect power assistance in slidably moving the door to a position at one side of the door opening. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view,partially in section, showing an improved plug door in closed position over the door opening of a railway car side;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view ofa door operating mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a door actuating mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a railway car side includes a rectangular door frame 11 consisting of laterally spaced door posts 12 defining a door opening 13. The door frame 11 is provided at the upper end with a top plate structure 14 and at its lower end with a side sill structure 15. The side sill structure 15 supports a laterally spaced track 16 on which a door 17 is slidingly removable. The door 17 comprises upper and lower members 18 and 19, respectively, connected by vertical members 20. The door 17 is provided with conventional sheathing 20 and is supported on one side by means of a roller support 21 which also provides for swiveling movement at the lower left hand of the door, as shown in FIG. 1. The upper left hand end of the door is also provided with a roller structure 22 which is adapted to be guided within the top plate structure 14 in conventional fashion. The right hand side of the'door is also slidingly supported at its lower end by means of a roller structure 23 of conventional design and suitably connected to a crank arm 24, also conventional. The upper right hand end ofthe door, as shown in FIG. 1, is also provided with a roller structure 25, also slidingly maintained within the top plate structure 14 and including a crank arm suitably connected to a vertical pipe or rod 26. The lower crank arm 24 is similarly connected to the pipe 26. Vertical locking bolt linkage is designated at 27 and is adapted to be vertically moved into locking position with respectto the door frame 11. Similarly, horizontal locking linkage 28 is movable to and from locking engagement with respect to the door frame 11.

A door actuating mechanism is generally designated by the reference character 30 and is supported on a rear plate 31 suitably connected to the sheathing 20'. A front plate 32 is horizontally spaced and parallel to the rear plate 31 and supports for rotation thereon a shaft 33 supported in bearings 34 and 35. The shaft 33 is rotated by means of a hand wheel 36 for manual operation. A drive gear 37 is adapted to rotate with the shaft 33 and in turn, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is adapted to drive a driven gear 38 through an idler gear 39. The idler gear 39, as best shown in FIG. 2, is rotatably supported on a shaft 40 in turn connected to an upper end of an arm 41. The :arm 41 includes a bore 42 which permits the lever 41 to be rotatably positioned relative to the shaft 33. The arm 4] is provided with a lower handle 43 so that it may manually be swung into several positions relative to the shaft 33. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a latch lever 44 is pivotally connected as indicated at 45 to the handle 43 and includes a latch plunger 46 which is alternately movable into stop openings 47 and 48 provided in the plate 31, depending on the position desired of the arm 41. The plunger latch 46 includes a piston element 49 which holds a spring 50 captive urging the plunger latch 46 into the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3. A bracket 51 retains the spring captive against a portion of the handle 43.

A shaft 52 is connected for rotation to the driven gear 38 and is journaled on bearings 53 and 54, respectively, of the plates 31 and 31. A sprocket 55 and gear 55' also are mounted for rotation with the shaft 52 and is adapted to drive a sprocket 56 by means of a chain 57. The sprocket 56 isrigidly connected to a drum 58 so .as to rotate the same about a shaft 59 suitably carried on the sheathing 20'. A cable 60 is wound about the drum 58 and extends around a pair of pulleys 61 and 62 and one end 63 of the cable 60 extends to the right, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, and is connected to an adjustable spring tension element 64 suitably supported on the top plate structure. The left end 65 of the cable 60 extends to another adjustable spring tension element 64 disposed on an opposite side of the door. The pulleys 61 and. 62 are suitably journaled on a bracket structure 61' connected to the sheathing 20'.

The actuating mechanism includes a cam 66 suitably supported as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 on a shaft 67 supported by bearings 71 on plates 31 and 32. The cam 66 is provided with an elongated recess or slot 68 and is pivoted as indicated at 69 to one end of the horizontal locking bolt 28. The cam 66 is also pivoted as indiacted at 70 to the vertical locking bolt linkage 27. A second cam 72 adjacent the cam 66 and disposed in the same plane as the said cam which is parallel to the plane of the sheathing 20' of the door, is provided with a recess or slot 73. The cam 72 is supported for rotation with a shaft 74 journaled in bearings 75 on the plates 31 and 32. A cam actuator designated at 76 is supported on and rotated by a shaft 77. The said cam actuator includes a camming element 78 movable sequentially into the slots 68 and 73 of the cams 66 and 72, respectively. The shaft 77 is suitably'supported by bearings 78 provided on plates 31 and 32. The cam 72 also is provided with a pivot connection 79 to a horizontally extending linkage assembly 80 which is pivotally connected as indicated at 82 to a bracket or clevis 81 which in turn is secured to the rod or pipe 26.

THE OPERATION The camming arrangements forming part of the actuating mechanism 30 are fully described in the above cross-referenced patent. The cams are of a Geneva type of movement in that they operate sequentially, being engaged in sequence by the camming element 78. Assuming now that the door is in the closed position which is indicated in FIG. 1, the operator now initially seeks to withdraw the locking bolts 27 and 28. He thereby rotates the handwheel 36 providing for rotation of the shaft 33 operating the gears 37 to move in a clockwise direction. The idler gear 39 is in the position shown in FIG. 2 and it is moved in a counterclockwise direction which in turn provides for movement of the gear 38 in a clockwise direction and a camming element 78 engages the cam 66 to swing the same in a counterclockwise direction, thereby withdrawing the locking bolts 27 and 28 from the locked position relative to the door frame of the car. Continued movement of the camming element 78 in the clockwise direction provides for engagement of the same within the slot 73 of the cam 72 which now rotates in a counterclockwise direction, moving the linkage 80 to turn the crank arms 24 and 25', in turn moving the right hand end of the door outwardly so that it now may be moved to an open position on the track 16.

Since the doors are now ready for sliding movement to one side of the door frame, the operator disengages the latch plunger from the bore or opening 48 in the sheathing by pressing the latch lever 44 toward the said sheathing and the lever is now swung to the dotted line position 41 wherein the latch plunger 46 is engaged with the opening 47 and locked in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2. The idler gear 39 has now been moved out of engagement with respect to the driven gear 38 and is now in driving engagement with the gear as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4 55'. Continued rotation of the handwheel and shaft 33 provides for rotation of the gear 55 in turn rotating the sprocket 55 which by means of the chain 57 rotates the drum 58. As the drum 58 is rotated the cable 60 is wound upon the drum 58 in one direction, thereby causing sliding movement of the door 17 to one side of the opening. A reverse driving movement of the handwheel provides for reverse movement of the drum 58 which in turn returns the door to its position over the door opening. The closing of the locking .bolts and rotation of the shaft rod 26 are effected in reverse order to provide again for closing of the door.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle door movable laterally into and out of the opening of a door frame and slidable between a position over the opening and one side of said opening, a rod rotatably connected to said door, crank arms on said rod rotatably connected to said door frame to provide for lateral movement of said door, locking bolt means slidably connected to said door and movable into and out of locking relation relative to said door frame, the improvement comprising,

a shaft rotatably supported on said door,

means on said shaft for rotating the same,

actuating means on said door,

first linkage means connected to said actuating means and said rod for rotating the same in response to movement of said actuating means,

second linkage means connected to said bolt means and to said actuating means for moving said bolt means in response to movement of said actuating means,

a mechanism for moving said door to one side of said opening including a tension member anchored on said frame adjacent said opening,

a rotatable member on said door connected to said tension member whereupon rotation of said rotatable member said door is moved between a position over the opening and a position on one side of the opening,

said actuating means including a first driven member,

a second driven member connected to said rotatable member for rotating the same, each of said driven members being laterally spaced apart in a vertical plane and arranged substantially parallel to the plane of said door,

a drive member rotatable in response to rotation of said shaft, and

a gear-type power transfer means engaging said drive member and arranged to be shifted relative to said drive member into selective engagement with either one of said laterally spaced apart first and second driven members so as to effect rotatable driving of either one of the engaged driven members upon rotation of said shaft and drive member.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

said drive and driven members comprising a series of gears.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said actuating means comprising,

a first cam rotatably supported on said door and connected to said first linkage means,

said actuating means also including a second cam rotatably supported on said door and connected to said second linkage means, and

camming means connected to said shaft and being sequentially movable into engagement with said first and second cams for effecting actuation at said first and second linkage means.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, said drive and driven members comprising a series a gears.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said power transfer means including an idler gear.

' 6. The invention in accordance with claim 5, said idler gear being shiftable along an arcuate path.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6, said drive member being supported on said shaft.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said idler gear being rotatably supported on a lever.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8, said lever being rotatably mounted on said shaft for independent rotation relative thereto. 

1. A vehicle door movable laterally into and out of the opening of a door frame and slidable between a position over the opening and one side of said opening, a rod rotatably connected to said door, crank arms on said rod rotatably connected to said door frame to provide for lateral movement of said door, locking bolt means slidably connected to said door and movable into and out of locking relation relative to said door frame, the improvement comprising, a shaft rotatably supported on said door, means on said shaft for rotating the same, actuating means on said door, first linkage means connected to said actuating means and said rod for rotating the same in response to movement of said actuating means, second linkage means connected to said bolt means and to said actuating means for moving said bolt means in response to movement of said actuating means, a mechanism for moving said door to one side of said opening including a tension member anchored on said frame adjacent said opening, a rotatable member on said door connected to said tension member whereupon rotation of said rotatable member said door is moved between a position over the opening and a position on one side of the opening, said actuating means including a first driven member, a second driven member connected to said rotatable member for rotating tHe same, each of said driven members being laterally spaced apart in a vertical plane and arranged substantially parallel to the plane of said door, a drive member rotatable in response to rotation of said shaft, and a gear-type power transfer means engaging said drive member and arranged to be shifted relative to said drive member into selective engagement with either one of said laterally spaced apart first and second driven members so as to effect rotatable driving of either one of the engaged driven members upon rotation of said shaft and drive member.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said drive and driven members comprising a series of gears.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said actuating means comprising, a first cam rotatably supported on said door and connected to said first linkage means, said actuating means also including a second cam rotatably supported on said door and connected to said second linkage means, and camming means connected to said shaft and being sequentially movable into engagement with said first and second cams for effecting actuation at said first and second linkage means.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, said drive and driven members comprising a series a gears.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said power transfer means including an idler gear.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 5, said idler gear being shiftable along an arcuate path.
 7. The invention in accordance with claim 6, said drive member being supported on said shaft.
 8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said idler gear being rotatably supported on a lever.
 9. The invention in accordance with claim 8, said lever being rotatably mounted on said shaft for independent rotation relative thereto. 